{"id":483318,"date":"2026-05-13T22:41:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/483318\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T22:41:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:41:12","slug":"the-1-unexpected-health-benefit-of-playing-pickleball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/483318\/","title":{"rendered":"The 1 Unexpected Health Benefit Of Playing Pickleball"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now, you\u2019ve probably seen a headline or two (or 200) labeling pickleball the \u201cfastest-growing sport in the country<\/a>.\u201d Pickleball courts<\/a>, clubs<\/a> and leagues<\/a> have popped up all over the country, and nearly 50 million people, or 19% of Americans, picked up a paddle last year, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to people who play, there are a ton of reasons why pickleball exploded in popularity: it\u2019s fun and competitive. It\u2019s a great way to make friends, plus it\u2019s largely inclusive \u2014 people of all ages and skill levels can join in. But perhaps the biggest selling point for playing pickleball is how beneficial it can be for our mental health.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Pickleball<\/p>\n

Pickleball is accessible, affordable and also good for your physical and mental health. RichLegg via Getty Images<\/p>\n

A new report<\/a> from Apple investigated the health benefits of pickleball using data gathered from Apple Watch users who opted into the study and found that playing pickleball is not only an impressive workout that can boost our cardiovascular and metabolic health, it\u2019s also associated with lower rates of self-reported depression.<\/p>\n

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Per the study, the self-reported scores of depressive symptoms were 60% lower among frequent pickleball players compared to the general group of study participants.\u00a0Long story short: racket sports help people work out their body and their mind, making them one of the healthiest physical activities<\/a> available.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe potential reasons for this observation could be attributed to a number of different reasons, including the sport\u2019s impact on hormones, neuromuscular coordination, resilience and more,\u201d principal investigator of the study Dr.\u00a0Calum MacRae<\/a>, a cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, told HuffPost.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why Pickleball Can Be A Powerful Mood Booster<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to MacRae, sports, including pickleball, provide numerous physical and mental health benefits. When you participate in an aerobic activity like pickleball, your body releases endorphins<\/a>, or hormones that relieve pain, reduce stress, and boost well-being.<\/p>\n

Playing pickleball is also a fun and efficient way of meeting the recommended guidance for physical activity<\/a> (150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week). Physical activity is known to improve quality of life and promote healthy aging, especially in older adults, evidence<\/a> consistently shows. And, as the Apple report revealed, pickleball games last roughly 90 minutes on average, helping you knock out half the amount of weekly physical activity needed in just one session.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Pickleball also gives people the opportunity to stay connected with friends and family or develop new relationships. When people join leagues, for example, they might form a new sense of community and belonging. Plus, it\u2019s inclusive: You can play with people of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cHumans thrive when we experience connection, and pickleball allows us to bond with one another through an activity that also physically makes us feel good,\u201d said\u00a0Emily Hemendinger<\/a>, an assistant professor in the\u00a0department of psychiatry<\/a>\u00a0at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.<\/p>\n

It can also provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. \u201cPlaying a sport, such as pickleball, can give people a goal to work towards, whether it\u2019s winning a game, meeting people, or improving one\u2019s skills,\u201d Hemendinger said. Winning, in particular, can lead to a sense of pride and accomplishment, she added.<\/p>\n

Pickleball Keeps Your Brain Sharp, Too<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another theory from MacRae as to why pickleball can be such a mood booster: playing pickleball outdoors may increase exposure to natural daylight. And the more natural light we\u2019re exposed to, the better our sleep quality, activity levels, and overall quality of life are, research suggests.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s not all. The game also requires people to pay attention and think quickly and strategically. If you get distracted, for example, you run the risk of getting hit in the face with the ball or letting down your partner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Physical activities<\/a> that require strategic thinking promote cognitive functioning, which can help prevent cognitive decline<\/a>. \u201cSome studies have even found that sports like pickleball and racket sports can improve memory and processing speed,\u201d Hemendinger said.<\/p>\n

In short: pickleball not only works out your body, it exercises your mind<\/a>. Taking care of your brain through thinking and problem-solving activities<\/a> can help decrease stress and anxiety.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny type of mindful movement, especially with others, can improve mood and help your physical and mental health,\u201d Hemendinger said.<\/p>\n

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Experts<\/p>\n

Experts say playing pickleball can help improve cognition. Visual Vic via Getty Images<\/p>\n

How To Start Playing Pickleball\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Landon Uetz<\/a>, a physical therapist and pickleball instructor on\u00a0TeachMe.To<\/a>, said the pickleball community is very welcoming of new players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before playing, it can be helpful to watch a video online<\/a> to get a basic understanding of the rules. And if you\u2019re hesitant about stepping onto a court \u2014 whether that be due to fear of not knowing the rules, getting hurt or failing \u2014 consider getting a lesson, Uetz said.<\/p>\n

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Before you jump into a game, it\u2019s worth warming up<\/a>, either through dynamic stretching or movement exercises (think: jumping jacks, light jogging or lunges). When coming from a sedentary state \u2014 whether that\u2019s at work, at home or after waking up \u2014 it\u2019s important to increase circulation throughout your body. A warm-up<\/a> loosens up your muscles, bones, ligaments and gets ready for activity, which can reduce the risk of pain or injury, Uetz said.<\/p>\n

If you have any injuries, check in with a health care provider before you give pickleball a go. They may be able to provide some advice as to whether it\u2019s safe for you to participate or if there are any modifications you can do during a game to protect from injury.\u00a0According to Hemendinger, as with all things, moderation is key.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoing any physical activity too much may lead to injury or exhaustion,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Listen to your body \u2014 if certain muscles start to ache, consider ramping up more gradually. Instead of playing for two hours, for example, try to hit the ball around for 30 minutes, Uetz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Even short bursts of activity can offer tremendous mental health benefits. \u201cWhether it\u2019s for 15 minutes or 90 minutes, getting out and moving your body mindfully and resetting your nervous system from a stressful day is a reliable stress reliever and coping skill,\u201d Hemendinger said.<\/p>\n

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Related…<\/p>\n

Read the original on HuffPost<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By now, you\u2019ve probably seen a headline or two (or 200) labeling pickleball the \u201cfastest-growing sport in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":483319,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[278],"tags":[211363,18,525,135,19,17,167,110296,101492,211362],"class_list":["post-483318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-calum-macrae","tag-eire","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-mental-health","tag-physical-activities","tag-pickleball","tag-playing"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116569681841954226","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=483318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483318\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/483319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=483318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=483318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=483318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}